Electronic communications content elaboration assistant

Abstract

A communications system ( 10 ). The system comprises circuitry ( 12 ) for receiving a communication. The system also comprises circuitry ( 16, 20 ), responsive to the communication, and for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding to content in the communication. The system also comprises circuitry ( 14 ) for presenting to a user a form of the elaboration.

1 . A communications system, comprising: 
 circuitry for receiving a communication;    circuitry responsive to the communication and for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding to content in the communication; and    circuitry for presenting to a user a form of the elaboration.    
   
   
       2 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry responsive to the communication and for selectively locating elaborating information comprises a user-programmable filter.  
   
   
       3 . The communications system of  claim 2  wherein the user-programmable filter is programmable such that subject matter programmed in the filter is excluded from causing selective location of the elaborating information.  
   
   
       4 . The communications system of  claim 2  wherein the user-programmable filter is programmable to include programmed subject to cause selective location of the elaborating information that corresponds to the programmed subject matter.  
   
   
       5 . The communications system of  claim 2  wherein the user-programmable filter is programmable in response to a user of the system single clicking on a displayed element corresponding to a portion of a received communication.  
   
   
       6 . The communications system of  claim 2  and further comprising: 
 circuitry for determining whether the communication is in a form that is capable of display; and    circuitry, responsive to the circuitry for determining making a determination that the communication is not in a form that is capable of display, for converting the communication into a form that is capable of display.    
   
   
       7 . The communications system of  claim 6  wherein the form that is capable of display comprises an image or alphanumeric data.  
   
   
       8 . The communications system of  claim 6:   wherein a communication in a form that is not capable of display comprises a speech communication; and    wherein the circuitry for converting comprises a speech recognier.    
   
   
       9 . The communications system of  claim 6  wherein the communication is of a type selected from a set consisting of voice-over-IP, email, instant messaging, and text messaging.  
   
   
       10 . The communications system of  claim 6  wherein the circuitry for receiving and the circuitry for selectively locating are part of a device selected from a set consisting of a telephone, a personal digital assistant, a hybrid telephone/personal digital assistant, a computer, and an electronic handheld device.  
   
   
       11 . The communications system of  claim 6  and further comprising circuitry for disabling the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding, to content in the communication.  
   
   
       12 . The communications system of  claim 6  wherein the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding to content in the communication comprises circuitry for searching for the elaborating information from resources over a network.  
   
   
       13 . The communications system of  claim 12  wherein the network comprises the global Internet.  
   
   
       14 . The communications system of  claim 12  wherein the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information selectively locates the elaborating information and retrieves it into a local storage prior to receipt of the communication.  
   
   
       15 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the communication is selected from a set consisting of text, symbols, acronyms, words, and phrases.  
   
   
       16 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for presenting comprises a display.  
   
   
       17 . The communications system of  claim 16  wherein the circuitry for presenting is further for presenting to a user a form of the communication.  
   
   
       18 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for presenting is further for presenting to a user a form of the communication.  
   
   
       19 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the communication is of a type selected from a set consisting of voice-over-IP, email, instant messaging, and text messaging.  
   
   
       20 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for receiving and the circuitry for selectively locating are part of a device selected from a set consisting of a telephone, a personal digital assistant, a hybrid telephone/personal digital assistant, a computer, and an electronic handheld device.  
   
   
       21 . The communications system of  claim 1  and further comprising circuitry for disabling the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding to content in the communication.  
   
   
       22 . The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding to content in the communication comprises circuitry for searching for the elaborating information from resources over a network.  
   
   
       23 . The communications system of  claim 22  wherein the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information selectively locates the elaborating information and retrieves it into a local storage prior to receipt of the communication.  
   
   
       24 . A communications system, comprising: 
 circuitry for receiving a communication;    circuitry responsive to the communication and for selectively locating elaborating information in response to a search using content in the communication; and    circuitry for presenting to a user a form of the elaboration.    
   
   
       25 . The communications system of  claim 24  wherein the circuitry responsive to the communication and for selectively locating elaborating information comprises a user-programmable filter.  
   
   
       26 . The communications system of  claim 25  wherein the circuitry for selectively locating elaborating information corresponding to content in the communication comprises circuitry for searching for the elaborating information from resources over a network.